Mail-bag catching and delivering apparatus.



H. KERSHAW.

MAN. BAG CATCHING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 25. 917- RENEWED MAR. 18. I919- 1,302,561 Patented May 6, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H. KERSHAW. MAIL BAG CATCHlNG AND DELIVERING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 26,1917. RENEWED MAR. 18. 1919. 1,302 561 Patented May6,1919,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. KERSHAW.

MAILBAG GATCHING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2E. 1917. RENEWED MAR. I8.19l9.

1,302,561; Patented May 6, '1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 'i H. KERSHAW MAIL BAG CATCHING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR-Z61 IQI Y- RENEWED MAR, 18.1919. 1,302,561 a Patented May 6, 1919.

a snares PATENT OFFTQE.

HENRY KERSI-IAW, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO KERSHAW CORPORATION, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW J EBSEY.

MAIL-BAG OATGHING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 6, 1919.

Application filed. April 26, 1917, Serial No. 164,658. Renewed March 18, 1919. Serial No. 283,439.

To all whom itmag concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY KEnsHAw, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Catching and Delivering Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for transferring a receptacle, such as a bag or the like, containing mail, despatches or the like, from a traveling vehicle, such as a railway train, to a station, and vice versa, in a highly expeditious, safe and convenient manner.

An important object of the invention is to provide means to reduce to the minimum the shocks and jars transmitted to the different parts of the apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for supporting or elevating the receptacle or receptacles, such as mail bags, while it is being attached to one of the holding devices, thus rendering such attachment more convenient and expeditious.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the holding device may be secured to a support, stationary or traveling, in a highly expeditious manner, without liability of accidental displacement.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the holding device cannot be improperly suspended from the support so that its proper detachment would be impaired.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the catching or delivering apparatus, automatically moves or drops to clear positions, upon the action thereof in transferring the bags or the like.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide yielding means to normally look the members of the holding device in the active position, such yielding means also serving to take up shocks transmitted to the receptacle or receptacles.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embodying my invention, showing the same applied to traveling and stationary supports,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of such apparatus,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the vertically swinging station support arm,

Fig. 4; is a plan view of the same,

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4:,

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the station fork or catcher,

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the same,

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 88 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the car fork or catcher,

Fig. 10 is aplan view of the same,

Fig. 11 isa detail section taken on line 1111 of Fig. 10,

'. Fig. 11 is a face view of the member 42,

Fig. 12 is a detail horizontal section taken on line 1212 of Fig. 9,

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of a supporting or raising device,

Fig. 14: is a side elevation of a holding device included in the invention,

Fig. 15 is an edge elev.tion of the same,

Fig. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 1616 of Fig. 14:,

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper end of the holding device, showing the clamping jaws thereof,

Fig. 18 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 1818 of Fig. 14:, and,

Fig. 19 is an enlarged side elevation of the pivoted lock-members, parts being broken away.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 20 desi nates a railway track, and 21 is a vehicle traveling thereon, such as a mail coach. This mail coach is provided with a door opening 22, as is customary.

Arranged suitably near the track 20 is a station plat-form 23, comprising a floor 24, supported by vertical legs or beams 25, preferably connected by diagonal braces 26. Arranged upon one end of the floor 24 is a step 27, having a hand rail 28, which is connected at its upper end to a vertical standard 29. The numeral 30 designates a. second vertical standard, arranged near the opposite end of the floor 24 and projecting thereabove. The

31 serve to brace these standards and take up any undue strains which may be transmitted thereto.

The station delivering apparatus comprises (see Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5), a bracket 32, clamped to the upper end of the standard 29, as shown. This bracket is provided with an enlarged head 33, carrying a pivot element 34, passing through an opening 35, formed in a vertically swinging arm 36. The arm 36 is provided at its outer end with a weight 37, preferably adjustably clamped thereto by means of a bolt 38. The head 33 is provided with a stop 39, to contact with a coacting stop 39, carrying the arm 36, which prevents the free or inner end of the arm 36 being swung downwardly below the horizontal position, and the head 33 is also preferably provided with a second stop 40, which restricts the upward movement of this inner end of the arm, when it is swung to the vertical position, by the weight 37.

As more clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, 6, 7, and 8, the numeral 41 designates a bracket included in station catching apparatus which is clamped to the standard 30, as shown. This bracket is provided at its free end with a head 42, carrying a laterally eX- tending stop 43. The numeral 44 designates a fork or catcher, which is approximately L shaped, and provided with a pocket or recess 45. The inner arm 46 of the fork carries a tubular hub 47, preferably formed integral therewith. One end of this hub is open while its opposite end is closed by a disk 48, having an opening 49, for the pivotal reception of a pin 50, provided with a reduced shank 51, having screw-threaded engagement within an opening 52 formed in the head 42, and carrying a lock nut 53, as shown. At its outer end, the pin is screw-threaded for the reception of a nut or nuts 54, engaging a coil spring 55, surrounding the pin 50, disposed between the same and the disk 48. It is thus apparent that the spring 55 tends to move the disk 48 toward the head 52, and the disk 48 is provided with a tooth or rib 56, adapted to be alternately moved into vertical or horizontal recesses 57 and 58. It is thus apparent that yielding means are provided to temporarily hold or look the fork 44 in the horizontal active position or the vertical inactive position. It might be stated at this point that when the fork catches the receptacle or mail bag, it is automatically released and gravitates to the vertical or inactive position.

The car 21 is equipped with a combined catching and delivering apparatus comprising a air of spaced brackets 59, bolted 0" otherwise rigidly secured to the inner side of the car 21. Arranged between these brackets is an apertured knuckle 60, receiving a pin or pivot element 61, as shown. The knuckle 60 is provided with recesses 62 and 63, (see Fig. 12) for the reception of a tooth or stud 64, carried by a lock-lever 65. This lock-lever 65 is pivoted at its upper end at 66, between spaced knuckles 67, carried by the upper bracket 59. The locklever 65 is adapted to be swung downwardly between lower apertured knuckles 68, carried by the lower bracket 59, and the locklever is provided with an aperture 69 adapted for registration with apertures 7 0 of the knuckles 68 and adapted for the reception of a pin 71, whereby the lock-lever 65 is securely held against accidental displacement. Rigidly connected with the knuckle 60 and preferably formed integral therewith is a horizontally swinging arm 72, provided at its free end with a fork or catcher 73, preferably disposed at a right angle thereto and formed integral there with. When the arm 72 is in the outer or active position, it may be locked in such position by the tooth or lug 64 being inserted in the recess 62, and when an arm is swung to the inner position, it may be locked in such position by the tooth or lug 64 enter ing the recess 63. The arms 72 (as more clearly shown in Fig. 10), is provided with a laterally extending stop-lever 74, having a diagonal brace 75, and preferably carrying a shock absorbing element 76, such as a section or block of rubber.

Each of the arms 36 and 72, (see Figs. 4 and 10), is provided near its free end with spaced apertured knuckles 77, between which is arranged a vertically swinging block or member 78, pivoted thereto by means of a pin 79, (see Fig. 11). The upper end of the block or member 78 is cut away, as shown in Fig. 11, so that such u per end is adapted to swing toward the arm, and such movement is opposed by a spring 80, as shown. Rigidly connected with the block or member 78 is a headed pin 81, and a second pin 82, is preferably arranged beneath the pin 81 and rigidly secured to the block 78.

The numerals 83 and 84 designate holding devices, carried by the station and car delivery apparatuses, and as these devices are identical and interchangeable, a detail description of one will suflice for both. Each holding device, as more clearly shown in Figs. 1, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19, comprises a pair of noncrossing arms 85, which are hinged at their upper ends, as shown at 86. At their upper ends, the arms 85 are provided with upwardly extending jaws 87. As more clearly shown in Fig. 17, one jaw is preferably provided with a tongue 88, to enter a groove 89 in the other jaw. A keyhole opening 90, with its large portion ar ranged lowermost, is formed through the inner portions of the jaws 87, and this opening is adapted for the reception of the pins 81 and 82. It is obvious that the head of the pin 81 may be passed through the large portion of the key-hole opening and the shanks of these pins inserted in the upper contracted portion of the key-hole opening, whereby the holding device is securely suspended from the pins. The jaws 87 are provided upon corresponding sides with obstruction lugs or elements 91, the function of which is to prevent the aws 87 from being placed upon the pins 81 and 82, when the holding device is turned in the wrong or opposite direction.

The lower ends or extensions 92 of the arms 85 are inclined or angularly arranged and extend in the direction of the application of pressure to collapse the arms 85, as will be more fully explained.

The numeral 93 designates lock arms, the outer ends of which are forked and pivotally connected with the extensions 92, as shown at 94. By virtue of the inclination or angular arrangement of the extensions 92, the upper edges or surfaces 95 of the lock arms 93 are inclined or angularly arranged and are substantially parallel with the inclined fork 44 or 73, which contacts therewith and swings the same downwardly, as shown in Fig. 16. One lock arm 93 is provided at its inner end with a tongue 95, op erating within a longitudinal groove or slot 96, in the other lock arm 93, and adapted to contact with a stop wall 97, thereby restricting the upward movement of the lock arms 93. The inner ends of the arms 93 are pivoted at 97. The lock arms 93 therefore have a knee pivotal connection, and the inner ends are adapted to be swung upwardly above the pivot points 94, for a substantial distance.

The numeral 98 designates a flexible element, such as a chain, connected with springs 99, in turn connected with the apertured ends 100 of the extension 92. It is apparent that the chain 98 and springs function to draw the arms 85 toward each other, and when the lock arms 93 are in the upper position, the arms 85 are thus locked apart.

Connected with the chain 98 is a chain or flexible element 101, adapted to be passed about a mail bag or mail bags 102, and I have a selected link thereof inserted about a hook 103 carried by the chain 98.

Arranged near the standard 29 is a vertically swinging support or raising platform 104 adapted to be operated by a lever 105, pivoted to the standard 29 at 106. The lever 105 carries a depending crank 107, having rigid connection with a treadle 108, arranged a convenient distance from the floor 24. The function of themember 104 is to aid in supporting or raising the mail bag or mail bags, as the same are being secured to the holding devices, at the station.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The mail bag or the like is suspended from the chain 101, which is passed thereabout, with its free end attached to the hook 103. The holding device, including the arms 85, is suspended from the headed stud 81, and the arms 93 shifted to the upper position, prior to the attachment of the mail bag to the same, as above indicated. During the attachment of the mail bag, the same may be partly or wholly elevated by the operator depressing the treadle 108 with his foot, thereby raising the platform or support 104.

As more clearly shown in Fig. 16, the upper edges 95 of the lock-arms 93 are inclined, by their connection with the angularly arranged extensions 92, whereby such edges are substantially parallel with the inclined fork 44. It is thus apparent that the fork will exert a downward pressure upon the lock arms 93, without tending to swing the arms 85 laterally, whereby the lock arms 93 are moved downwardly, so that the device will release the headed stud 81. The holding device is thereby separated from the headed stud and is caught by the fork 44.

The same operation occurs in connection with the fork 7 3 and holding device, and it is thought to be unnecessary to state the same.

It is to be understood thatthe form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a support, a stationary head secured to the support and having a substantially fiat face provided thereon with a recess, a pivoted head having a substantially fiat face provided thereon with an extension to enter the recess, said pivoted head having an opening formed through the central portion thereof, an arm carried by the head, a pivot element carried by the first named head and passing through the opening in the pivoted head and provided at its free end with a stop, a compressible coil springsurrounding the pivot element and confined between the stop and pivoted head, and a protecting tube formed integral with the pivoted head and completely inclosing the spring.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a support carrying a laterally extending headed member; of a holding device to cooperate therewith, including a pair of pivoted arms provided with co-acting jaws having a key-hole opening to receive the headed member, said keyhole opening having its large end arranged lowermost, and means to normally lock the arms in the outer position.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a holding device comprising pivoted arms having their upper ends provided with co-acting jaws and their lower ends angularly arranged, said jaws being provided upon corresponding sides with obstructing means projecting laterally in the same direction with said angularly arranged lower ends, lock arms pivotally connected with the lower angularly arranged portions of the first named arms so that their upper edges are inclined, means pivotally connecting the inner ends of the lock arms, and means to draw the first named arms toward each other.

at. In apparatus of the character described, a holding device comprising pivoted arms provided at corresponding ends with co-acting jaws and at corresponding opposite ends with angularly arranged extensions, lock arms pivotally connected with the angularly arranged portions of the first named arms so that their upper edges are inclined and having their inner ends pivotally connected, means to draw the first named arms toward each other, and obstruction lugs secured to corresponding sides of the jaws.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a holding device comprising pivoted arms provided at corresponding ends with co-acting jaws, lock arms pivotally connected with the first named arm and having their upper edges angularly arranged and their inner ends pivotally connected, obstruction lugs secured to corresponding sides of the jaws, and means for moving the first named arms toward each other.

6. I11 apparatus of the character described, the combination with a support arranged transversely of the direction of travel of a car, of a block pivoted to the support to swing in the direction of travel of the car, a spring to oppose the swinging movement of the block in one direction, a headed stud secured to the block, and a holding device having detachable engagement with the headed stud.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY KERSHAW.

Witnesses:

FRANK A. BRoss, V. ALVIN RIGHTMIRE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

